Identification of Chanterelle Mushrooms

Proper identification of chanterelle mushrooms is crucial if you want to start harvesting them from the wild. There are poisonous false species; so making a mistake could lead to a miserable intestinal adventure.

Yet don't let that scare you off! With practice, chanterelle identification will become easier. You'll start to clearly see how they differ from their look-alikes.

Like so many mushrooms, there is current confusion over chanterelle classification. Mycologists now believe that the original Cantharellus cibarius may actually be made up of a number of different species. For this reason I've avoided using species names on this page, instead just sticking to main chanterelle characteristics.

This page is divided into two sections. The first goes over the features of chanterelle mushrooms. The second section deals with the false look-alikes. Please take the time to become familiar with these so you don't make a mistake when mushroom hunting.

My final disclaimer is that you should never eat a mushroom based solely on what you've learned online, including this page. Be sure to get some practice with a local expert, and never eat anything you can't positively identify!

Traits and Characteristics

Being able to recognize false gills is one of the most useful skills for chanterelle identification. False gills appear as forked folds or interlaced wrinkles on the underside of a mushroom.

False gills are not easily removed from the cap, and look as though they have "melted". You couldn't separate them from the cap without ripping something. The picture on the right is an example.

Note how in chanterelle mushrooms the false gills are decurrent, meaning they run down the stem.

True gills are individual, blade-like structures. They can be picked off separate from the cap and each other. Button mushrooms in the grocery store are examples.

Other identification features:

Cap

Either convex or vase shaped

Mainly light yellow to orange-yellow, although there is a peach-colored Cantharellus persicinus.

Stem

Smooth, with no bulb around the base or ring. Not hollow. Same color as the cap.

Spore print

White to light yellow

Habitat

Chanterelle mushrooms are mycorrhizal, meaning they form a symbiotic beneficial relationship with plant or tree roots. You'll find them on the ground in a variety of hardwood forests.

Often found near washes, the edges of dirt roads, or other places where the ground has been disturbed.

Smell

Just picked specimens will have a sweet smell like apricots.

Time of year

July to September, or whatever passes as mid-summer to early fall in your area.

Chanterelle Mushroom Look-Alikes

Chanterelle mushrooms are most commonly confused with either the jack o'lantern or the false chanterelle. Although not fatal, neither should be eaten.

Jack o'lanterns (Omphalotus olearius, Omphalotus illudens, Omphalotus olivascens) contain the toxin muscarine. If eaten, they can cause severe cramps and diarrhea. The picture on the right shows a clump of them.

One of the best ways to identify a chanterelle from a jack o'lantern is by examining the gills. Remember that chanterelles have false gills, which are forking wrinkles on the underside of the mushroom that appear "melted". Jack o'lanterns have true gills, meaning they are non-forked and knife-like.

Other ways to tell a jack o'lantern from a chanterelle:

Jack o'lanterns grow in large groups with the stems attached. Chanterelles are usually solitary or in a small bunch with separate stems.

Jack o'lanterns are more orange, less yellow.

Chanterelles will always be near trees due as they are mycorrhizal fungi. Jack o'lanterns may appear where there are no trees.

An experienced eye usually won't have a hard time distinguishing between a jack o'lantern and a chanterelle. Take some time to look at pictures and try to find examples in the wild. A trip out with your local mushroom club can be a great help.

The next look-alike is the aptly named false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca). Although some say this mushroom is edible, it reportedly is far too bitter to taste good. The picture on the left shows a few false chanterelles.

There are claims that this mushroom is outright poisonous, giving them upset stomachs and digestive problems. Thus it's best to avoid the false chanterelle altogether.

Again, the main way to tell a true chanterelle from false is by examining the gills. False chanterelles have true gills, although they are forked on the edges. They still appear as close blades rather than lumpy folds. See how they differ from the gill picture in the first section above?

Another way to distinguish the two is with color. The false chanterelle is a deeper orange with no yellow. The color is also graded, meaning they're darker at the center of the cap rather than one uniform color.

None of that is a substitute for real-life examples. Don't try to identify chanterelles without going on a few mushroom forays and getting instruction from someone knowledgeable. Remember: "when in doubt, throw it out", because you really don't want to make the mistake of eating a jack o'lantern!

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The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified physician or health practictioner for diagnosis and treatment of any condition. This site is also not to be used as the final word in identification. Never eat anything you haven't positively identified at least three times before.
Please use your common sense and be safe!